Last-minute goal ends Hawai'i's shot at title

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

A last-minute goal by Georgia striker Mohammad Siddique spoiled Hawai'i's bid at making soccer history at the 2003 U.S. National Veteran's Cup yesterday.

Aloha United striker Wendell Staszkow celebrates after scoring his team's only goal in a 2-1 loss to Georgia Select in the over-55 final of the U.S. National Veteran's Cup. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

Aloha United was bidding to become the first Hawai'i team to win a championship at the sixth annual U.S. National Veteran's Cup. Out of 12 Hawai'i teams, Aloha United was the only one to play for a championship this tournament.

"We didn't win the final, but we met all our expectations," said Aloha United striker Wendell Staszkow, who scored Hawai'i's only goal. "We wanted to show them that Hawai'i guys can play soccer."

The Veteran's Cup — which had 67 teams from 23 states and about 1,500 participants — was the third major soccer tournament in two years at the Waipi'o soccer complex. Last month, Hawai'i hosted the Snickers U.S. Youth Soccer Far West Regional Championships, and last summer, the American Youth Soccer Organization Championships.

Yesterday, Siddique's heroics put the finishing touches on the 90-minute game that featured penalty-kick goals by Georgia striker Shlomo Kassis in the 33rd minute and Hawai'i's Staszkow in the 86th minute.

Georgia's go-ahead goal was scored in the 90th-plus minute. (The game was extended a little longer because of stoppages in play). On that play, midfielder Hazom Hazom passed the ball across the mouth of Hawai'i's goal to a streaking Siddique on the right side.

Hazom said he wanted to avoid overtime and decided to take control of the game by dribbling down the left flank to set up a scoring opportunity.

"I thought it was going to be (overtime)," Hazom said. "I thought (overtime) would be too much for us. I went all the way to get a penalty or to give a pass. It worked."

Added Siddique: "I prayed for this moment all day. I hoped I would get this chance."

Many Hawai'i players said the playmaking ability of Kassis and Hazom provided the difference in the game. Both players handled most of the passing duties and helped Georgia control the ball at midfield. Kassis and Hazom said they played professionally in Israel and South Africa.

"If we could have contained No. 17 (Kassis) and No. 10 (Hazom) we would have won the game," Aloha United halfback Frank Doyle said. "Those two guys are very excellent players. All and all, it was a very even match."

Staszkow credited Hazom for making the game fun and competitive.

"It was really a pleasure playing with him," Staszkow said. "When you play like players like that, it helps elevate your game. It can only help us get better to play good players like that."

Hawai'i finished the tournament with a 2-1-1 record. Georgia posted a 3-1 record. Both teams played four games in four days. Hawai'i dealt Georgia its only loss in a 1-0 game earlier in the tournament.

"I think when we got down to the end both teams were tired," Doyle said. "We were a little bit more tired than they were. For our first go-around we're pleased. We were in the final. We're going to be in the final next year, too. We're ready to go next year, too."

Most of the players on the Hawai'i team play in the Men's Island Soccer Organization (MISO) masters league which is an over-45 league, Staszkow said.

Notes: The Hawai'i team will be traveling to Australia in April to play in an international tournament, Staszkow said. ... The four division winners each received $750, with the division runners-up winning $250. The division winners received an automatic berth for next year's competition which is scheduled to be held at Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Complex, June 23-27, 2004.